China and Portugal issued a joint press communique in Beijing on January 13, reaffirming friendship on the basis of mutual respect and pledging concerted efforts to consolidate and enrich ties in all areas, especially in economic arena.

The two countries signed the communique amidst Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio's state visit to China.

China and Portugal are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. To mark the historic occasion, Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio is paying a state visit to China from Jan. 11 to 17 as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

In the communique, China and Portugal speak positively of their relationship over past 25 years and vow to further enhance bilateral ties through strengthening high-level reciprocal visits and deepening exchanges and cooperation in economy, culture, education, science and technology, tourism, and judicature.

Approved by the Chinese government, the Portuguese government decides to open a consulate general in Shanghai and dispatch an honorary consul to Hong Kong this year, the communique says.

The two sides highly value the achievements the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has scored over past five years and agree that the Macao SAR should continue to play an important role in furthering the exchanges and cooperation between China and Portugal.

In the communique, Portugal reaffirms to support the one-China policy and opposes to any unilateral action that will change the status of Taiwan, or will lead to the escalation of the tense situation across the Taiwan Strait or to the Taiwan independence.

The Portuguese side believes that the constructive dialogues should be the basis of relationship across the Taiwan Strait so that the Taiwan problem can be peacefully resolved and the stability and prosperity in the region be guaranteed, according to the communique.

Both countries are happy to see the sound development of relationship between China and Europe Union (EU), the communique says. The two sides express readiness to continue to make contributions to consolidate ties between China and EU in politics, economy and other areas.

The two sides reiterate the significance for EU to lift the arms embargo on China at an early date in an effort to promote andcement the political ties between China and EU. The Portuguese side expresses to make efforts for the embargo lift in accordance with its stance adopted at the 7th China-EU Leaders' Summit last December.

Both sides also stress the significance for EU to grant the full market economy status to China in a bid to deepen the all-round strategic partnership relationship between China and EU. They welcome China and EU to form a taskforce for actively resolving the issue.

The two countries agree that human rights dialogues between China and EU are conducive to promoting human rights cause and agree to strengthen and deepen China-EU dialogues in this regard on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

China and Portugal call for a continuation of the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula and Portugal acknowledges China's significant role in resolving the issue, the communique says.

The two countries also reaffirm their pledges on multilateralism and express willingness to deepen consultation and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations (UN).

The two sides meanwhile vow to make joint efforts in international cooperation to fight AIDS, terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crimes.

The two sides will endeavor to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on personnel exchanges and the crackdown of illegal immigration between China and EU. China and EU should open talks on a repatriation pact at an early date, it says.

The communique points out that amidst the backdrop of globalization, only the efforts made by the international community can justly resolve the issues that the world is facing and enhance the welfare of people in the world.

Source: Xinhua